Cucumbers and Tomatoes are Rising in Price: Vegetable Costs in Late October 2026

In Ukraine, late October 2026 sees a noticeable increase in the price of greenhouse cucumbers and tomatoes. The main drivers behind the price growth are a reduction in market supply, cool weather, and slower vegetable maturation, which has restricted shipments from local producers.

Greenhouse Tomato Price Dynamics

Prices for greenhouse tomatoes in Ukrainian farms have been rising for the third consecutive week. According to EastFruit analysts, this produce is currently offered at 55 to 80 hryvnias per kilogram, which is on average 10% higher than at the end of the previous working week. Market participants attribute this trend to limited supply: some farms have completed sales from the previous turnover, while tomato ripening has slowed down in stationary greenhouses due to cooling temperatures.

Meanwhile, supplies from plastic greenhouse tunnels have stopped completely, and compensating for the deficit through imports has not yet succeeded. Nevertheless, despite the current increase, greenhouse tomatoes remain about 22% cheaper compared to the same period last year.

Greenhouse Cucumber Market Situation

A similar trend is observed in the cucumber market: due to cool weather, supply volumes in local greenhouse farms halved over the week. This triggered a sharp 32% price surge, with cucumbers now being sold mainly in small wholesale lots at 55–80 hryvnias per kilogram.

Additional pressure on the market comes from high demand by retail chains and wholesale companies, as well as a lack of competition from imported goods. Experts note that the start of foreign supplies, expected as early as next week, could stabilize prices.

General Context of the Produce Market

Despite the weekly price increase for cucumbers and tomatoes, year-on-year they remain cheaper than last year's figures: greenhouse cucumbers trail the late October 2025 prices by an average of 34%. Simultaneously, other vegetable prices continue to fluctuate in the Ukrainian market; for instance, onions dropped in price last week due to weak demand, though they remain higher than last year's level.

Consumer Impact and Future Outlook

The current price situation in the greenhouse vegetable market directly impacts consumer food costs in retail stores and markets. Producers do not rule out further price increases if high sales volumes persist and mass imports are absent. Future trends will depend on weather conditions, the pace of foreign supply activation, and consumer purchasing power.